Experts slam the Australian government’s social media ban for teens
Critics argue that a social media ban for under-16s could do more harm than good, severing crucial connections for young Australians.
The Albanese government’s proposal to ban social media access for under-16s, framed as a "world-leading" approach to protect children, has sparked widespread criticism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the impending legislation, asserting, “Social media is doing harm to our kids, and I’m calling time on it.” However, many question whether banning teens from social platforms truly serves their best interests.
🚨𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that all teenagers under the age of 16 will be banned from social media access in Australia. pic.twitter.com/4cqjP8vNlH
— Australians vs. The Agenda (@ausvstheagenda) November 6, 2024
The government claims that social media sites like Facebook and Instagram negatively impact young people’s mental health, with Albanese stating he’s heard “thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles” voice concerns about online safety.
"Should Australians be prepared for having their faces scanned to use social media?"
— Nathan Livingstone (MilkBarTV) (@TheMilkBarTV) November 7, 2024
The Australian Government announced today it will be illegal for people under 16 to use social media. The question of how social media sites will verify the age of users still hasn't been… pic.twitter.com/FCUji9kriV
At the same time Prime Minister Albanese is floating a proposal to ban children under 16 on social media, the Victorian ALP is promoting an LGBTIQA+ agenda to children 5 years old and up. This includes using libraries to carry "educational" books like ‘Welcome to Sex’, which are… pic.twitter.com/rCOVQCWTBY
— Malcolm Roberts 🇦🇺 (@MRobertsQLD) September 16, 2024
The legislation, expected to be introduced during a national cabinet meeting, would require platforms to enforce age verification for all users under 16. While underage users who bypass restrictions won’t face penalties, the platforms themselves will be held accountable.
they're set to ban YouTube lmfao???
— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) November 7, 2024
it's used so often in schools, why would you ban a Year 10 student from watching videos?? this means no news, no sports highlights, literally nothing - YouTube is so widespread i don’t get why you'd restrict it https://t.co/KplQggJCRx pic.twitter.com/dpgnuNr0ZD
Drawing parallels to age restrictions on alcohol, Albanese argued, “We have laws such as people can’t buy alcohol if they’re under 18… those laws set what the parameters are for our society. They assist in ensuring the right outcomes.” However, some observers say this comparison overlooks the complex role social media plays in young people’s lives, particularly for those facing isolation.
The Australian PM has demanded social media platforms ban memes making fun of him. pic.twitter.com/w1uilHkVJy
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 24, 2024
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland acknowledged that social media helps youth "stay connected" but suggested that the risks outweigh the benefits, stating, “When it comes to protecting children from the harms caused by content or addictive behaviours as a result of social media, we are on your side.” Yet, her assurance hasn’t swayed critics who argue that an outright ban could exacerbate feelings of isolation for many young people.
> “we’re giving power to the parents”
— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) November 6, 2024
> doesn’t give power to the parents https://t.co/jkBPvtgFBP pic.twitter.com/hNr82kJzEJ
Youth advocates warn that restricting social media access will disproportionately affect vulnerable teenagers who depend on online platforms for friendship and support. “The ban is pretty much the opposite of what we would recommend,” said Amelia Johns, associate professor of digital media at the University of Technology Sydney. “For a lot of young people, it’s not an option to opt out, and I do wonder about the mental health consequences of a complete blanket ban.”
Concerns have also been raised about the policy’s effectiveness. A recent age verification trial in France revealed that nearly half of teenagers bypassed restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs).
